Sediqullah Atal’s career-best 143 and Ibrahim Zadran’s 107 helped Afghanistan beat Ireland by 42 runs in the fourth ODI in Belfast and take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Afghanistan made 343 for 9 after being put in to bat, with Atal and Ibrahim adding 231 for the second wicket. Ireland fought back in the chase but were bowled out for 301 in 48 overs.Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 12 early, but Ibrahim and Atal put Ireland under pressure with a big partnership. Ibrahim reached his century from 114 balls and scored 107 off 118, while Atal was more aggressive, bringing up his hundred from 98 balls. He went on to make 143 off 120 balls, hitting 17 fours and four sixes. Their partnership took Afghanistan past 240 before Ireland finally broke through.Ireland’s bowlers did well to pick up wickets in the final part of the innings and restrict Afghanistan to 343 for 9. Byron McDonough took three wickets and Mark Adair two, but Afghanistan had already built a strong platform. Darwish Rasooli added 24 and Azmatullah Omarzai made 15 as Afghanistan finished with a total that put Ireland under pressure.
Ireland started positively but slowly in the chase, with Paul Stirling and Balbirnie putting on 48 for the first wicket. Stirling made 27 before Allah Ghazanfar trapped him lbw and Yamin Ahmadzai then bowled Cade Carmichael for five to leave Ireland 53 for 2. Balbirnie stayed firm and was joined by Harry Tector as Ireland moved to 90 for 2 after 18.4 overs. Balbirnie eventually reached his century and kept Ireland in the contest, but the required rate continued to rise.
Curtis Campher then gave Ireland fresh hope with a quick 84 off 46 balls. His attacking innings helped keep the chase alive alongside Balbirnie, who made 109 off 119 balls. But Afghanistan kept finding wickets as Ireland tried to accelerate, and once Campher was gone, the chase lost momentum. Yamin Ahmadzai finished with four wickets and Rashid Khan three as Afghanistan bowled Ireland out for 301 in 48 overs, sealing a 42-run win and another dominant series result.Brief Scores: Afghanistan 343/9 in 50 overs (Sediqullah Atal 143, Ibrahim Zadran 107; Byron McDonough 3-84, Mark Adair 2-60, Gavin Hoey 2-71) beat Ireland 301 all out in 48 overs (Andy Balbirnie 109, Curtis Campher 84; Yamin Ahmadzai 4-71, Rashid Khan 3-49) by 42 runs.
